Choose Your Ring

Types of Precious Metals for Ring Settings

You already know you're creating the one-of-a-kind ring she'll wear for the rest of her life, so you want to be sure she loves it. She will likely have a preference of the type of metal and the colour for her engagement ring setting and we've created some guidance to help get you started:

Platinum

Characteristics

Enduring, strong, and lasts a lifetime
Composed of 95% platinum and 5% other pure alloys

Price

A rare and expensive precious metal

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in platinum prongs

Performance

Strongest precious metal

Resistant to damage

Does not wear away

Develops a satin finish

Platinum is hypoallergenic

Highest level of purity

18k Gold

Characteristics

A classic metal with high gold purity
Composed of 75% gold and 25% pure alloys

Price

Less expensive than platinum, yet highly valued

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in platinum prongs

Performance

Softer, malleable metal

Easy to polish and repair

Resistant to rust and tarnishing

18k yellow gold is rich in colour

Has a distinct heritage

14k Gold

Characteristics

A strong metal that is popular in fine jewellery
Composed of 58.3% gold and 41.7% pure alloys

Price

Less expensive than 18k gold, yet offers great value

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in 14k white gold prongs

Performance

Known for strength

Longer wear due to hardness

Easy to polish and repair

Resistant to rust and tarnishing

Moderate in colour compared to 18k yellow gold

Palladium

Characteristics

A rare metal with the highest purity
Composed of 95% palladium and 5% other pure alloys

Price

Less expensive than platinum, yet offers great value

Setting Metal

Centre diamond is set in platinum prongs

Performance

Known for strength, yet lighter than platinum

Has a natural and permanent whiteness

Easy to polish and repair

Resistant to corrosion, oxidation, and tarnishing

Palladium is hypoallergenic

It is scratch-resistant

To get more guidance on what type of precious metal she prefers and the colour, see our Engagement Ring Guide.